questions about a damaged Merlin engine trailing white smoke

[Flyingkag]

Hey guys,

today some questions I have about the damaged engine a crashing P-51D Mustang.

One WWII witness gave a written statement, saying the plane was "trailing white smoke" as it flew over him; it crashed in the mountains one minute later; that "white smoke" would mean "coolant" I guess.

Facts and other statements let me understand that this Mustang slowly had lost altitude in it last minutes of flight, probably flying down with an about 5% ratio, so that as it came in front of a mountain, with no possible escape, it hit the trees...just some meters under the top of the mountain.

It seems it had NO reserve of power, because the crash happened just 5 meters under the hill top! He just was not able to pass over...No luck...

Can someone maybe explain to me what is the relation of the white smoke and the lack of power of the engine?; I understand nothing on mechanics.

would maybe such a smoke have come inside of the cockpit (plane was hit about 4 minutes earlyer), so that the pilot maybe had choosen to open or jettison the canopy because of the toxic (?) stuff of this smoke?

Thanks for sharing your opinion, guys!

Mathias